
Class 
Book_ 



/ 



SERMON, 

PREACHED AT SCIPIO, N. Y. 



AT THE 



^coition 



OF 



JOHN DELAWARE, 

A NATIVE; 

FOR THE 

MURDER 

OF 

Ezekiel Crane. 

AUGUST ir, 1804. 



By the Rev. Hez? N. Woodruff, A. M. 

Pastor elect of the Church of Christ in Scipio. 



PREACHED AND PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 



ALBANY: 

PRINTED BY CHARLES R. AND GEORGE WEBSTER. 

1804. 



A SERMON. 



Wi 



E are now assembled upon one of the 
Biost solemn occasions, that ever convened an 
assembly of men. An occasion, which must 
bring death, judgment and eternity, immediate- 
ly into view : To behold one of our fellow sinners 
in full health and vigor, under the freest and best 
constitution of government, expire, under sen- 
tence of death, as the reward of sinful pas- 
sion ; and to give our approbation to the pro- 
priety of that law of man, and to the equi- 
ty of that law of God, which requires, that 
"• whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall 
his blood be shed." 

Upon such an occasion, not fco have a mind 
firmly fixed on the general good, though at 
the loss of individual life, would be weak and 
pusillanimous ; yet to have a heart, under 
your advantages, untouched with pity, would 
be more than savage. A compassionate tem- 
per is strongly enforced by that gospel I am 
called to declare unto you this day, 

A mind, well taught in the principles of this 
gospel, and a heart under its practical influence^ 



* 4 

would have prevented the prisoner from being 
brought to this place of execution, and you 
to this place of audience. Let me persuade 
you therefore, to employ the present hour 
about those things which will have a tenden- 
cy to aid us in life and prepare us for death. 
For this purpose, let me engage your attention 
to that interesting commission, which Paul re. 
eeived of the Lord Jesus Christ, unto the 
Gentiles ; recorded, 

ACTS XXVI, 18. 

Unto whom I now send thee, to open 

THEIR EYES AND TO TURN THEM FROM 

DARKNESS UNTO LIGHT, AND FROM THE 
POWER OF SATAN UNTO GOD, THAT THEY 
MAY RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, 
AND INHERITANCE AMONG THEM THAT 
ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH FAITH THAT 
IS IN ME. 

To open blind eyes, to turn from darkness 
unto light, and from the power of satan unto 
God, is the prerogative of Jehovah. And the 
means, which he employs for that purpose, 
are the gospel and its institutions ; and the in- 
struments, are* his apostles and ministers. And 
because he designed to bless Paul, as a suc- 
cessful instrument to the Gentiles, the power 
is here attributed to the instrument, which be- 
longs only to the agent. And to the gospel 
is ascribed all those energies, which are pro- 
perly ascribable only to the infinite power of 
God. Hence it is described, to be " the wis- 
dom of God and the power of God to all 
that believe, to the Jew first and also to the 
Greek. '* 



In discoursing from these words, I shall en- 
deavour first, to give a scriptural view of the 
state of mankind by nature ; secondly , to de- 
scribe the effects of the gospel upon them ; 
thirdly, to consider the blessings which flow 
to them through this gospel, and lastly, to im- 
prove the discourse and close with addresses 
suitable to the occasion. 

I. I am to give a scriptural view of the state 
of mankind by nature. 

The text has given the great outlines of 
man's condition. That his eyes are shut, that 
he is in a state of darkness, and under the 
power of sin and satan. And a liberal pro- 
portion of the sacred scriptures has been writ- 
ten to confirm this declaration. To represent 
that this condition, miserable and unhappy as 
it is, is not merely an unhappiness, into which 
unfortunate and miserable sinners have fallen, 
but that it is the effect of their own conduct, 
and the result of their own choice. In per- 
verseness and obstinacy, in oppression and cru- 
elty, " they have set their eyes bowing down to the 
earth." " Their eyes have they closed." And 
our Saviour has fully declared the prevailing 
reason of this conduct — " Lest they should see 
with their eyes, understand with their hearts and 
be converted and I should heal them." 

That darkness which is intimated in the 
text, is in the sacred scriptures variously de- 
scribed. Sometimes it is represented, as over- 
whelming the natural powers like a bewilder- 
ing mist. — So that " They grope in darkness." 
" They walk in darkness, and know not whither 



' % 6 

tc they go, because darkness hath blinded their 
" eyes. 97 This is so far from being the unhap- 
piness of sinners, that it is their pleasure. " They 
love darkness because their deeds are evil j 
And will not come unto the light lest their 
deeds should be reproved." 

This darkness, also, beguiles the understand- 
ing, and perverts the judgment. " Puts darkness 
for light, and light for darkness, evil for good, 
and good for evil, bitter for sweet, and sweet 
for bitter." Nor are their faculties alone affect- 
ed by it. " Having the understanding darkened, 
being alienated from the life of God, through 
the ignorance that is in them," the heart is 
blinded. This being the seat of the affections, 
they all become opposed to God and holiness. 
*' For when they knew God, they glorified him 
" not as God, neither were thankful, but be- 
<c came vain in their imaginations, and their 
el foolish heart was darkened." The fountain 
of the heart being thus darkened and corrupted 
must continually send forth streams issuing in 
death. " For out of the hearts of men proceed 
" evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, mur- 
u ders, thefts; All these evils come from the 
" heart, and defile the man." 

This darkness affects our thoughts, our actions 
and our words. " For we cannot order our 
<c speech, by reason of darkness, 99 It soon af- 
fects and overspreads the mind, and the whole 
body becomes full of darkness. 

Those whose eyes are thus closed—whose 
understandings and hearts are thus darkened, 
are under the power of sin and satan. However 



painful to a reflecting mind this truth may ap- 
pear, it is clearly exhibited in the sacred scrip- 
tures. " Know ye not that his servants ye are, 
* c to whom ye yield yourselves as servants to 
" obey; his servants ye are to whom ye obey, 
<c whether of sin unto death, or of obedience 
<c unto righteousness. Let not sin reign in 
" your mortal body that ye should obey it in 
" the lusts thereof, neither yield ye your mem- 
" bers as instruments of unrighteousness unto 
« sin," 

Satan was the first and great apostate. His ex- 
ample and influence induced many other angels, 
like himself, to rebel against God. And when 
cast out of paradise, the first instance of his ma- 
lice was to destroy the innocence of the man 
whom God had created. And having succeeded 
in his attempt by forging lies, he is styled a 
liar from the beginning, and the father of it. 
So all sinners stand in relation to this father, 
and are said to be under his power and influence. 
And this is the miserable lot of the unregenerate 
in every age, whether he be Greek or Jew, Bar- 
barian or ; Scythian, bond or free. But some 
particular nations, as the Gentiles in the days of 
the Jews, and the heathen and antichristians in 
the days of Christianity, and many individuals of 
all nations, are more peculiarly than others, under 
the influence of this wicked one. Of whom it may 
be said, that " they have already turned aside 
" after satan." " Whom God hath given over 
*' to a reprobate mind, to do those things which 
<c are not convenient: Being filled with all un- 
righteousness and maliciousness — full of envy 
and murder — who knowing the judgment of 






8 

" God, that they that do such things are wor-* 
" thy of death, not only do the same but have 
<4 pleasure in them." 

r 
t •* • 

Such is the power of sat~n over mankind, even 
over some who are under the light of the gospel, 
that he takes away gospel benefits — even the' 
word of God as soon as it is sown in the heart. 
He fills the heart with covetousness and lust, 
and tempts it to resist the Holy Ghost. " He 
" blinds the minds of those that believe not, lest 
" the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who 
" is the, : [.mage of God, should shine into them." 

He enters into others, carries them away cap- 
tive at his will, and fills their hearts with malice 
and rage. No crime is then too great for them 
to perpetrate. Sinners under his influence, will 
sacrifice the interests and happiness of their fel- 
low beings on the altar of their own ambition — > 
will cruelly and maliciously murder their neigh- 
bor, and even treacherously betray the Son of 
God. 

For sinners to be delivered from this state of 
darkness and slavery, could it be viewed in a 
proper light, would be considered a high privi- 
lege. And this is the very privilege which I 
propose to consider in the 

Second place — By describing the effects of the 
gospel upon them. 

Paul was commissioned as an instrument, 
and this is the express business of the gospel 
ministry, to open the blindl eyes. The pow- 



fcr belongeth to God: M The Lord openeth the 
«yes of the blind." But the gospel, being the 
wisdom of God and the power of God, under 
the influence of the spirit, takes away the hard 
and stony heart, ait 1 gives a heart of flesh. 
Opens the eyes to perceive the beauties of the di- 
vine character, and the mind, to be pleased with 
the rectitude of the divine law : To admire the 
moral perfections of Jehovah, and to accord with 
his government* " The gospel bringeth the hid- 
M den things of darkness to light. " The eyes of 
men's understandings are enlightened, "that they 
" may know what is the hope of their tilling." 
That their mind may be enlarged to comprehend, 
and their judgment matured to receive, the great 
truths of Christianity, 

The sound of the gospel becomes as power- 
ful as the trumpet which wakes the dead, and 
raises dead sinners to life — To hear the invita- 
tions of the gospel, and the voice of him who 
hath called them out of darkness into marvelous 
light — Who was given for a light unto the Gen- 
tiles — to open the blind eyes, to bring out the 
prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in 
darkness out of the prison-house. 

Under the influence of this gospel, the heart 
is no longer wholly the seat of moral pollution. 
It is no longer that corrupt fountain from whence 
proceedeth evil thoughts, adulteries, murders, 
thefts, wickednesses : " For God, who conimand- 
" ed the light to shine out of darkness, hath 
u shined into their hearts to give them the light 
" of the knowledge of the glory of God in the 
•J face of Jesus Christ." 

B 



10 

The heart now becomes the seat of all the 
moral virtues. From this purified fountain com- 
eth, " love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- 
" ness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance ; 
" against such there is no law.'* 

The members of the body are no longer the ser- 
vants of sin, to obey the lusts thereof; because the 
voice of the gospel is heard, saying, " turn ye, 
turn ye, for why will ye die ! Turn ye unto me, 
saith the Lord, and I will heal your backslidihgs." 
The inviting view of mercy prevails upon them, 
u to yield themselves unto God, as those who are 
" alive from the dead, and their members as in- 
" struments of righteousness unto God. Being 
" then made free from sin, .they become the ser- 
" vants of righteousness, and rejoice in the 
" hope of their calling." They being made 
alive through the blood of the cross, become 
the children of their heavenly Father ; and God 
their Father protects and defends them from the 
wiles of the devil. By the blood of the cross, 
satan is dispoiled of his power over all them that 
believe. They cast oil his chains, with all the 
shackles of sin, and turning unto God, are 
brought into -that glorious liberty, wherewith 
God and Christ have made us free. Here they 
are in a good measure freed from their former 



propensities to sin, " and as the elect of God are 
enabled to put on bowels of mercies, kindness, 
humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffer- 
ing, forbearing one another, forgiving one 
"another. And if any man have a quarrel 
" against any, even as Christ forgave them y so 
" also they are enabled to do." " And above- 
" all these things they put on charity which is 






11 

" the bond of perfectness. And the peace of 
" God rules in their hearts." They are admit- 
ted into the familv of the sons of God. " And 
" are come unto Mount Zion, and to the city 
" of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, 

' and to an innumerable company of angels. 

i and to the general assembly of the church of 
' { the first born , which are written in heaven ; 
' { And to God the Judge of all, and to the 

; spirits of just men made perfect : And to 
" Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, 

; and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh 
" better things than that of Abel." 

Thus by the operations of the gospel and 
of the spirit of God, they are prepared to re- 
ceive the blessings, which we propose to con- 
sider in the 

Third place — as flowing to them through the 
gospel. 

These blessings are represented in the text 
as flowing to them, by faith in Christ. The 
eyes being opened to see, and the light, the 
necessary medium of sight, suitably afforded; 
the mind being made willing in the day of 
God's power, when the object is presented, is 
prepared to discern, to judge, and to approve. 
The gospel, as in a glass, presents' the Lord 
Jesus Christ, as the proper object — The soul 
believes, and rests on his ability and willing- 
ness to save to the uttermost all that come 
unto God through him. This constitutes that 
faith in Christ, to which all the privileges of 
the gospel are promised, and by which all its 



12 

Spiritual blessings are received. That whoso* 
ever believes in him should not perish but have 
everlasting life. That he should receive the 
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among 
them that are sanctified. 

Every sinrier in &n unregenerate state is under 
the condemnation of the law, and exposed to the 
wrath and curse of God. But the gospel, and 
the gospel only, offers pardon of sin and accept- 
ance for sinners. Glorious grace ! astonishing 
mercy ! Jesus Christ is exalted at the right hand 
of the Father to give repentance and remission 
of sin I The Lord, who is plenteous in mercy, 
has set open an inexhaustible fountain, that who- 
soever will, may come and take of the waters of 
life freely. 

This blessing is not proportioned to poverty 
or riches, nor measured by honor or dishonor. 
But the redemption of Christ, and the forgive- 
ness of sins, hath abounded towards us " accord- 
ing to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath 
made us accepted in the beloved." 

This blessing may be graciously and glorious- 
ly extended — even to all sinners. There is no 
sinner, however plunged in the depths of vice 
and iniquity, to whom the encouragements of 
the gospel may not be suitably addressed : 
" Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest." 

This blessing may be extended to all sins, ex- 
cept blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. All 
sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men. The 



13 

sin-pardoning God forgiveth all thy iniquities, 
and healeth all thy diseases. He extends the 
blessing as far as the curse is found. 

The greatness of sin is no bar to the forgiv- 
ing grace of God. But is good ground on which 
to plead for pardon — " Pardon my iniquity for 
it is great." Many crimes indeed are of a crim- 
son die. Hands stained with blood. But a com- 
passionate Saviour saith, " Come now and let us 
reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, 
they shall be white as snow ; though they be red 
like crimson they shall be as wool.— I have 
blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, 
and as a cloud thy sins. As far as the east 
is from the west, so far have I removed thy 
transgressions from thee." 

Nor does the number of their sins debar 
them from favor. This is the glorious ground 
of hope for the saint* How often soever he 
transgresses the law of his God, so often he may 
come unto Christ the fountain, and be cleansed. 
" For the blood of Christ cleanseth from all 
sin. For if we sin we have an Advocate with 
the Father, who is faithful and just to forgive us 
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness." 

Nor while life and breath remain is it too 
late to hope ; for God is gracious and long suf- 
fering, slow to anger and abundant in kindness. 
He can say to the soul in the agonies of death, 
*' this day shalt thou be with me in paradise," 

This blessing believers experience in the 
present life, but they shall more perfectly en- 



u 

joy it, when they shall receive an inheritance 
among them that are sanctified. 

This blessing is also received by faith in him 
who was appointed to be Heir of all things. Who 
" hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by 
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 
Whose " spirit beareth witness with our spirit 
that we are the children of God — And if children, 
then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with 
Christ : Heirs to an inheritance, eternal, incor- 
ruptible and undefined, that fadeth not away.'' — 
To a crown of glory, which the Lord JesusChrist 
shall give unto all that turn from satan unto God. 
And they shall be kings and priests in the city 
and temple of our God, who shall go no more 
out. Nor shall this be an empty title, for they 
shall be heirs to a kingdom, and this shall be an 
everlasting kingdom ; and they shall rule and 
reign with Christ for ever and ever. 

This inheritance shall be among them that are 
holy and sanctified. And the inhabitants shall no 
more say, I am sick, for the Lord Jehovah shall 
be their God, and shall wipe away all tears from 
their eyes. This will lead me, in the 

Fourth place — To some improvement of the 
discourse, and to make the addresses suited to 
the occasion. 

From the preceding remarks, we learn, 1st, 
The deplorable situation in which all mankind 
are by nature — In a state of moral darkness 
and blindness, and under the power of satan 



15 

— children of wrath, and heirs of disobedi- 
ence. 

Let your thoughts accompany me for a mo- 
ment in a survey of the heathen of the east, and of 
the savages of the west. There you will see how 
blindness overspreads the understanding, and 
darkness pervades the heart. There you will see 
them ignorant of God, and of the great princi- 
ples of moral obligation. There you will behold 
them " walking after the flesh, in the lust of un- 
cleanness, despising government, presumptuous, 
self-willed, having eyes full of adultery, and that 
cannot cease from sin." There you will behold 
them governed by the principles of malice and 
revenge; "murderers of fathers, murderers of 
mothers, and manslayers," sacrificing their chil- 
dren unto idols, and bowing down themselves in 
the worship of devils. Did I say that all man- 
kind were by nature exposed to this darkness 
and error ? Yes, I did ! And still say, if there is 
any difference among the nations of the earth, 
every degree of it is owing to the light of 
revealed religion. That light has, at different 
times, been so generally diffused among the ci- 
vilized nations that it is incorporated into their 
very systems of morality, and has been a great 
mean of supporting their civilization. A gene- 
ral belief of this truth will lead me, 

2dly, To appreciate the privilege of being un- 
der the influence of the gospel. The very outward 
and common advantages of which tend to the 
highest rational and moral improvement. Its 
precepts enter immediately into all the duties of 
civil and social life. Under the influence of the 
gospel, cruel and malicious passions are sub- 



18 

clued, and wanton lusts suppressed. The know- 
ledge of the natural and moral perfections of 
God, is widely extended, the mind enlightened, 
and the understanding greatly enlarged. The 
moral and social duties are more extensively 
explained, and the aids of civil government 
more mildly concerted and more benignly ad- 
ministered. And by the hopes and fears of 
futurity, the whole face of nature puts on a more 
benevolent and friendly aspect. 

How much more precious are those inward 
and spiritual advantages, which result from the 
divine operations ! They, and they only, whose 
happiness it is to be brought, spiritually, out of 
darkness into marvelous light, can duly appre- 
ciate them. " God be thanked, that now being 
made free from sin, and become servants to God, 
ye have your fruit unto holiness, and in the end 
eternal life"— That sin should have no more do- 
minion over you. Blessed are your eyes for they 
see the light ; and your ears, for they hear the 
sound of that gospel trump, which wakens sin- 
ners, dead in trespasses and in sins, into life. — 
Blessed souls ! delivered from the power of satan 
and from the depths of hell, marching homeward 
to their God. Cleansed from sin, and beautiful- 
ly arrayed in robes of righteousness, preparing 
to take possession of the long promised inheri- 
tance, and to receive a crown of glory which 
fadeth not away. 

And here let me call on every heart to rise in 
highest praise for this unspeakable blessing. — 
What reason have all, who live under the light of 
the gospel, to rejoice ? If any thing can impress 



17 

you with a sense of your superior advantages, it 
must be the object which is before you — ignorant 
and untutored, equally unmoved by the fears of 
death, and unawed by the presence of God ! The 
soft hands of civilization have neither changed 
his manners, nor the benevolent principles of the 
gospel, his heart. He still retains his savage 
manners, and cultivates the principles of revenge 
—Expects to meet and hold a parley with the vic- 
tim of his wrath, and wants his powder horn, on 
which his name is graven, as a passport to the 
world of spirits* 

Is there here a thoughtless mind that is not 
moved with pity, or a hardened heart that does 
not thrill with horror ? The very spot on which 
we stand, was lately occupied by a savage tribe ! 
They have fled from the light and shunned the day 
—the gospel clay, that glorious light which now 
brightens this western clime — Have fled from 
that blessing which this day to you is offered. 

And while we pity their folly, and reproach 
their madness, may the aggravated condemnation 
never fall on us, which falls on those who neglect 
these blessings. Let us remember, that hordes 
of these untutored, savages will rise up against us 
and condemn us, if we walk not in that light, and 
obey not the influence of that gospel, which 
brought life and immortality to light. 

Here let me impress upon you the importance 
of promoting the knowledge of God, and of es- 
tablishing the precepts and worship of the gospel. 
How should the Christian, whi is brought out of 

C 



18 

darkness into marvelous light, recommend these 
blessings by every precept and example ! How 
solicitous should he be to deliver down to pos- 
terity the great and glorious plan of salvation ! — 
To persuade you, let me invite you to turn your 
eyes hither, and then let me ask, what would be 
the conflict of your own consciences, should any 
of you, or of your posterity, be under like con- 
demnation ? It will afford n6 excuse, that indivi- 
duals, under gospel light, sometimes fall into sin. 
Were the principles of the gospel duly reverenc- 
ed, and its precepts duly felt, the malignant and 
destructive passions would be soon subdued, and 
earth, now so full of wild disorder, would be- 
come a paradise. " Take heed, therefore, to the 
things which you have heard, lest at any time ye 
let them slip." For unto you, I trust, I am sent 
of God, as an instrument, " to open your eyes, 
to turn you from darkness unto light, and from 
the power of satan unto God ; that you also may 
receive the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance 
among them that are sanctified by faith that is in 
Christ." 

I shall now expect to be indulged while I make 
a particular address to the prisoner. 

John ! thou art one of my fellow sinners, to 
whom I now preach the unsearchable riches of 
Christ. However important this day may be to 
us all, it is infinitely so to you. You have hith- 
erto lived under that moral darkness, and under 
that power of satan, which I have now been de- 
scribing. Having your understanding darkened, 
and being alienated from the life of God, you 
have been influenced by malicious and revenge- 



19 

fill passions* For out of the corrupt fountain of 
your heart has issued that murderous design, 
which your hands have executed. 

I 

When you were arraigned at the bar of civil 
justice, you confessed your murderous pur- 
pose, and asserted your impenitency — Nay, that 
your designs extended still farther — to take the 
life of every white brother, until your own was 
sacrificed. You have been justly condemned to 
lose your own life— And this is the hour of your 
execution. In a few minutes you must die, and 
be arraigned at the bar of God. There you must 
be tried for this and for all your other offences* 
Although you have not lived under the light of 
the gospel, yet such have been the advantages of 
the light of nature, and such your intercourse 
with Christian people, that you never can be 
justified, nor expect to escape everlasting con- 
demnation. 

O that God in mercy might make this a 
part of my commifiion-— to open your eyes, 
and to turn you from darknefs unto light, 
and from the power of fatan unto God ; that 
you may receive the forgivenefs of fin, and 
an inheritance among them that are iancti- 
fied. 

Chrift Jefus came into the world, to fave 
juft fuch miferable, ignorant, dying ikiners as 
thou art. He is able, and he is willing to fave, 
all who come to him. Now look up unto 
him, he will bring you unto that Great and 
Good Spirit, where all the good are gone, 
Say to him in your heart, you are forry for 



20 

your fin, and he will forgive you your fih 
Though your fins are very many, and your in- 
iquities very great, he can forgive them. Yea, 
although a brother's blood cry againit you, 
from the ground, and you can attain no free- 
dom from men ; yet God ean pardon you. It 
is now not too late. But a few minutes de- 
lay will put it for ever beyond a poffibility to 
obtain a pardon, Chrift is able to bring you 
to the enjoyment of heaven, and to give you 
the bleffing of eternal life. He came into the 
world, " to bring the prifoner out of the pri- 
fon, and them that fit in darknefs out of the 
prifon-houfe :" To give light and life to them 
that fit in the region and valley of the fha- 
dow of death. Though your body mult now 
die, if you will go to him your foul ihall live. 
He will wafh away all your fins, and give 
you a clean and white garment, will put a 
ring on your hand, and a crown on your head, 
and feat you on his throne among kings for 
ever. If you will not, he will fend you away, 
to dwell for ever among devils and wicked 
men like yourfelf. Behold, now is the time, 
now, let me perfuade you to fly unto Jefus 
Chrift the Son of God. And pray to him, fay- 
ing, Lord Jefus have mercy on me, and re- 
ceive my fpirit. We alfo will lift up our voice 
and pray for you. O that God would have 
mercy upon you ! O that Chrift would have 
mercy upon you, and bring you from the 
power of fatan unto the living and true God : 
that you may know him and the power of 
his refurreclion ! 

To the friends of the prifoner, if any are 



•prefent. la addition to what I have aire 
laid, I can only urge the importance of cul- 
tivating, more particularly, an acquaintance with 
Chriftian people. That thereby, they may be- 
come better acquainted with the gofpel plan 
of falvation. That the hopes and fears of the 
gofpel, may more particularly influence them 
in all their moral deportment. That they 
would labor to feel the juftice and propriety 
of this punifhment, that this may prove a fo- 
lemn admonition to them, and their children, 
of the dreadful nature of fin. That they may 
fear and tremble before that law, which re- 
quires that " whofo fheddeth man's blood, by 
man fhall his blood be fhed/' 

To the widow, children and friends of the 
man who fell a vi&irn to the wrath of the 
prifoner. — 

You have come to be fpectators of a moft 
folemn tranfaction. — However I may mourn your 
lofs, and participate in your forrows — I have 
no other gofpel to addrefs unto you, than that 
I have already addrefled to the reft of my 
fellow finners. Although you may fafely go 
to Chrift in all your afflictions, and diftreffes, 
and find favor and help; you mail remember, 
however injured by man, you a3fo, muft go to 
him to obtain the pardon of your own fins. 
One duty you will naffer me to enforce on you 
to day. You will be-in danger of coming to 
this place of execution with an improper frame of 
mind ; even in taking fatisfaclion in that ven- 
geance which juftice takes on your enemy. Ex- 
ercife therefore a forgiving temper, even as you 



22 

hope to be forgiven of your God. Let the exam, 
pie of Chrifl on the crofs towards his enemies, in- 
fluence your hearts towards this miferable fufferer* 
AdojDt his ]anguage and fay, Father, forgive him, 
for he knows not what he does. May you there- 
fore obtain mercy, to be found faithful, and re- 
ceive the forgivenefs of fin through Jefus Chrift 
our Lord, 

And may this impreffive fcene remind us all 
of that folemn hour, when we, and all that are in 
their graves, mall come forth and ftand in one 
great arTembly at the bar of God. They that 
have done good unto the refurrection of life, and 
they that have done evil unto the refurrection of 
damnation. " For behold he cometh, he cometh 
in the clouds of heaven, and his reward is with 
him, and his works before him, to give unto every 
one according to his deeds. To them who by 
patient continuance in well doing, feek for glo- 
ry, and honor, and immortality, eternal life. But 
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey 
the truth, but obey unrighteoufnefs, indignation 
and wrath, tribulation and anguifh, upon every 
foul of man that doeth evil. 

"" But glory, honor and peace, to every man 
that worketh good ; to the Jew firft and alfo to 
the Gentile. AMEN. 



/ 






-K 



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